Sikkim teen adopts clouded leopard, wins hearts with wild affection

17-year-old Jigdrel Dorjee Lepcha stands apart, not just for his sporting achievements but for a rare act of compassion. A Class XII student of Assam Valley School and captain of the Under-16 Basketball team representing Sikkim at the national level, Jigdrel recently adopted a clouded leopard named “Chimi” at the Himalayan Zoological Park, making a statement far larger than his age might suggest.

“Her growl is deep and wild… It really belies her size,” says Jigdrel, speaking of Chimi, the 3.5-year-old agile feline now thriving under care at the park. Chimi’s journey began in distress—rescued as a 6-month-old cub during the peak of monsoons in the dense forests of West Sikkim. She was wet, frail, and separated from her mother. Efforts to reunite her with her wild kin failed, and since then, she has been under the park’s protection, now glowing with strength and grace.

Jigdrel’s gesture comes with a contribution of ₹10,000 under the park’s animal adoption initiative, but its impact is far greater. His involvement reflects a growing consciousness among youth about wildlife conservation, especially in biodiversity-rich regions like Sikkim.

The adoption is more than symbolic. It is a heartfelt tribute to a living creature whose kind is elusive in the wild. The Himalayan Zoological Park, home to many endangered Himalayan species, has often urged the public to support conservation through its adoption program. Jigdrel’s participation—at such a young age—has not gone unnoticed.

Born into a family deeply rooted in Sikkimese identity and culture, Jigdrel’s empathy for the wild seems almost inherited. His father, Shri Tashi Chophel, currently Secretary of School Education, Government of Sikkim, is also an acclaimed poet. His debut poetry collection How to Collect a Folktale has drawn wide praise in literary circles across the country and beyond.